Styrene Garden: Annother Thunderbolt!

Republic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was one of the main United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) fighters of World War II, and served with other Allied air forces. The P-47 was very effective in air combat but proved especially adept at ground attack. It had eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded the P-47 could weigh up to eight tons. A modern-day counterpart in that role, the A-10 Thunderbolt II, takes its name from the P-47.

I needed another break from the last P-47D. So another P-47D would cure that empty space on the workbench. lol. Tamiya's Jug is just about one of the best fitting kits in 1/48th. No fit issues so far. I started with the power-plant, the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 painted in Alclad II Aluminum with details painted with Vallejo paints as well a acrylic wash. The ignition harness wires are .010 and .015 lead wire painted black, lastly I fitted a Pratt & Whitney photo-etch logo on the bottom of the case.

The cockpit was like any other project, primed with Mr. Surfacer 1200 thinned with lacquer thinner and leveling thinner for a smooth surface. Gunze field green was followed up with Vallejo paints and bits n' pieces of Eduard photo etch from past Jug projects. I decided to wire up the back of the instrument panel with lead wire, not knowing it would be unseen by the glare-shield armored panel. lol. two hours of drilling and screaming for something that will never been seen. At least I know what's 'under the hood'.

The kit come with several options for gun-sights; the Mark VII Illuminated sight was enhanced with a Eduard sight and glass projector masked with liquid tape for spraying. The pilots seat was further enhanced with Eduard PE belts and given a pin wash of a mix of AK interactive enamel wash.

Next, sleep, cockpit dry-fit and fuselage joining...